FPV in IRL

[Richard Boyd]

Hi Bumper, I am unsure of the legal aspect of transmitting video in the South of Ireland.
I would suggest that you contact MACI , this is the governing body for RC in the South.
They are there to help you ! and will give you guidance.

[zg3409]

Hi,

I have read with interest the messages so far. I have an amateur radio licence and I have been involved in sending TV pictures for 10 years.

From a techical point of view

1249Mhz transmitters are illegal in Ireland and we use 1240 -1300 (and received up to 1320) in Ireland so you will interfere with us! We report interference and can track down messers. We have already has to report and remove illegal commercial security cameras from our allocation.

MPT1349 (probably comreg typo) is actually on 1394Mhz and it seems to be exempt up to 500mW (this is a lot of power for a model aircraft)

See:
http://www.sourcesecurity.com/docs/fullspec/ACFA94.pdf

and
http://www.icecom.is/gogn/18931003.pdf


Generally I would not really advise it for your use as there may be high power users in every city which could cause interference. Generally the 5.8GHz stuff is better but is more expensive. A good camera is very important also.

We have a website with info (not 100% up to date)
http://www.iatc.ie

and there are people involved in Dublin, Cavan, Waterford and Cork. We mainly have equipment at the top of mountains which listens for a TV signal, then re-broadcasts this on a different channel.

For your use I would also suggest using directional receive aerials on the ground end as these are perfectly legal and can help the signal. The down side is someone needs to point the thing.

I am available to offer advice, give help and demo gear if needed. There is lots of good and bad gear out there so ask somone for advice. I aI (along with others) are working on text overlay on the video so you can ddiaply things like altidue, position (from GPS) and time/date etx. We are also conidering auutomous flight in the future (pilotless) I live in Bray Co Wicklow, so we can meet.

We have very high power transmitters and very, very sensitive receivers. I am also working on digital TV transmitters. These would be more useful for semi professional use or from a full size glider to ground. We can use them "aeronautical mobile" and you will hear a hot air balloon on our frequencies from time to time. The legal aspect is to stop interference with other users and your own aircrafts equipment.

Regarding cost we normally build our own stuff, or modify off the shelf gear. It's only a hobby after all.

Dan 087-7731120
Bray, Co Wicklow

[liutas009]

your system from the link is not made for airplane. Its to heavy.
The only made transmitter video  system is 900mhz, 1.2 ghz 1.3 ghz 2.4ghz and 5.8ghz.
We need power for long range. As im doing aerial video and photography i need to fly 1-2km distance to get a shot.  so its complicated.

[IceWind]

Hi,

I have read with interest the messages so far. I have an amateur radio licence and I have been involved in sending TV pictures for 10 years.

From a techical point of view

1249Mhz transmitters are illegal in Ireland and we use 1240 -1300 (and received up to 1320) in Ireland so you will interfere with us! We report interference and can track down messers. We have already has to report and remove illegal commercial security cameras from our allocation.

MPT1349 (probably comreg typo) is actually on 1394Mhz and it seems to be exempt up to 500mW (this is a lot of power for a model aircraft)

See:
http://www.sourcesecurity.com/docs/fullspec/ACFA94.pdf

and
http://www.icecom.is/gogn/18931003.pdf


Generally I would not really advise it for your use as there may be high power users in every city which could cause interference. Generally the 5.8GHz stuff is better but is more expensive. A good camera is very important also.

We have a website with info (not 100% up to date)
http://www.iatc.ie

and there are people involved in Dublin, Cavan, Waterford and Cork. We mainly have equipment at the top of mountains which listens for a TV signal, then re-broadcasts this on a different channel.

For your use I would also suggest using directional receive aerials on the ground end as these are perfectly legal and can help the signal. The down side is someone needs to point the thing.

I am available to offer advice, give help and demo gear if needed. There is lots of good and bad gear out there so ask somone for advice. I aI (along with others) are working on text overlay on the video so you can ddiaply things like altidue, position (from GPS) and time/date etx. We are also conidering auutomous flight in the future (pilotless) I live in Bray Co Wicklow, so we can meet.

We have very high power transmitters and very, very sensitive receivers. I am also working on digital TV transmitters. These would be more useful for semi professional use or from a full size glider to ground. We can use them "aeronautical mobile" and you will hear a hot air balloon on our frequencies from time to time. The legal aspect is to stop interference with other users and your own aircrafts equipment.

Regarding cost we normally build our own stuff, or modify off the shelf gear. It's only a hobby after all.

Dan 087-7731120
Bray, Co Wicklow

Hi Dan,

Great to see more people involved in these projects in IE.

One question, have you considered "inejecting" the "text" into the video stream but using the method used by the broadcast teletext? (vertical blanking interval )

I've been trying to find other ways to have telemetry without using a extra downlink or by extracting data from the video overlay.

Nando

[zg3409]

There was a teletext encoder available for hobbiests but the company that sold it no longer does it.

With digital transmission, which I am working on, it is theoretically possible, but the off the shelf units just allow setting of station name etc.

There is some guys in the UK working on PC based transmissions where every aspect can be varied, and they hope to use it for one way data transmission.

Your best best would be to use a seperate 433.92Mhz serial modem to send the data. These are dirt cheap and easy to interface with. Some have built in error correction and are fast and good. It's what I would use.

Dan

[IceWind]

Just sharing a small test done this weekend.

[youtube]http://youtube.com/v/b-TJS_5cacM[/youtube]

Lesson learned, never trust the chinese when it comes to crimping plugs.
Had to redo all the wiring for the video part, as the plugs were badly crimped and were source of video black outs.

[Richard Boyd]

Nice video Nando.

[liutas009]

Finaly, got full set up on my plane, so can fly with maximum safety taking pictures around the country.
Here are few samples done in past few days

[Richard Boyd]

FANTASTIC !
Liutas this is exactly what I would like to acheive with my camera and plane.
Is your plane now FPV ?

[liutas009]

Thanks, it is full fpv sistem.
Without it wont be able to get clear shot

[IceWind]

Great pics Liutas!
Those are making me consider installing the FPV system on a plane as well.


This weekend I went for further tests.
Solid signal and image and I should get the new "toy" I'm developing finished soon.
It's a ground box that connects to the video RX and tells me the signal strength and voltage
levels. So far is just on a LCD but when the code is finished it will give sound alarms as well.

[liutas009]

verry good. Im waiting for Bixler form HK, this is gona be my fpv fun plane

[Richard Boyd]

Hi Luitas, I am waiting on dry weather to test my ugly home build camera platform plane.
Made from foam scraps,ply wood from a scrap caravan, tail feathers from an election poster, and part of a fishing rod that I recovered from the skip.
This plane cost me pennys not pounds.
Will it fly ?

[liutas009]

Hi Luitas, I am waiting on dry weather to test my ugly home build camera platform plane.
Made from foam scraps,ply wood from a scrap caravan, tail feathers from an election poster, and part of a fishing rod that I recovered from the skip.
This plane cost me pennys not pounds.
Will it fly ?

Man, im not specialist in building scrap planes, but anything with wings and motor can fly . I think its cheap enought to by ARTF from HK. I just ordered BIXLER for 49$ .
And this plane will definetly fly. Great paltform for FPV.

[Richard Boyd]

Hi Liutas, my scrap plane now is in the rubbish bin !
First flight was not good !
I just returned from flying holidy on the North Coast and weather was amazing. Sad that I had no platform to take foto.  :!:
I read very good reports about Bixler for FPV, very exciting to get new plane.

Richard